OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Washington, DC 20003

Washington: median income $159,846, home value $957,700, $625/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, VA 22201 88%6$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($176K less) · older homes
Arlington, VA 22203 87%7$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Miami, FL 33131 85%925$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($303K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22314 83%6$148,451$899,000$624 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98107 83%2,327$142,662$953,400$553 more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98121 83%2,325$152,019$848,400$575 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
San Francisco, CA 94107 82%2,437$182,897$1,222,500$1,051 pricier homes ($265K more)
Seattle, WA 98109 82%2,325$133,663$1,034,100$649 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($76K more) · more renters
Playa Vista, CA 90094 79%2,309$145,744$1,356,000$885 pricier homes ($398K more) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22209 78%5$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60642 78%598$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($364K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22202 77%4$133,762$899,000$453 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($59K less) · more renters
Austin, TX 78701 77%1,318$162,168$722,400$705 cheaper homes ($235K less) · smaller · older residents
Chicago, IL 60611 75%597$125,675$650,800$394 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($307K less) · older homes
Jersey City, NJ 07302 74%201$175,077$865,100$888 cheaper homes ($93K less) · 11 min longer commute · more renters
Chicago, IL 60601 73%596$121,458$526,200$494 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($432K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60654 73%597$147,357$500,400$404 cheaper homes ($457K less)
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 73%2,310$146,167$1,272,200$834 pricier homes ($315K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Mc Lean, VA 22102 72%14$153,949$955,500$417 more single-family homes · less walkable · older homes
Chicago, IL 60607 72%598$127,732$499,700$417 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($458K less)
Denver, CO 80202 71%1,492$114,151$722,700$467 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($235K less) · smaller
Cambridge, MA 02141 70%392$126,522$868,100$842 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 70%900$124,812$884,800$542 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98101 70%2,325$128,882$784,200$657 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32814 69%755$140,274$754,300$363 cheaper homes ($203K less) · smaller · more single-family homes

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.